Scarlet Oak

Quercus coccinea

Family Fagaceae
Notable Features
Leaves: Alternate* leaves have approximately 7 to 9 lobes* and have extremely deep sinuses* reaching more than halfway to the midrib* of the leaf. The upperside of the leaf is a shiny and glossy green - the underside is duller. The top and bottom of the leaf is hairless, with occasional small stellate hairs* in the angles formed between the midrib and the off-branching veins.
Twigs/Buds: Twigs are smooth and hairless, and buds* are approximately ¼ inch (millimeters) long, with scraggly hairs and whitened tips. The buds may or may not be pointed.
Bark: Bark is a dark gray, and finely grooved along the surface; no peeling.
Acorns: The acorns of the scarlet oak have caps* that deeper and bowl-shaped, layered, and hairy. Similar to acorns of the Black Oak, but the caps don't hug the acorns as tightly
Size/Shape: A medium sized oak that grows to heights of 40 to 60 feet (12-18 meters) and diameters of 3 to 5 feet (1 to 1½ meters).
Location on Campus

(click for map)
One of the only Scarlet Oaks on campus is right at the southwestern corner of T-Lot, right by the road up to Sachar International Center.
Uses
Like other oaks, the acorns are edible, yet must be leached* before consumption to remove the bitter-flavored tannin*. Once the nuts have dried, they can be eaten on their own, candied in a sugar solution, or ground into a flour or meal.
Except where specifically noted, all text, photographs, and drawings copyright Chris Bersbach and Lisa Leombruni 2002. No part of this page may be reproduced without the express permission of the authors.